7.9 Psychiatric illness among the Maltese

The types of psychiatric disorders most frequently found in Maltese in Australia can be estimated from studies of attendance rates in psychiatric hospitals. In Victoria the most common disorder is schizophrenia (25-5/1000) followed by manic depressive psychosis and neurosis. The overall attendance rate at psychiatric hospitals has 48.3 per 10,000, which is higher than the average Australian rate of 30.6, but less than other S. European (e.g. Italy 47.5, Greece 63.3, Yugoslavia 69.5).

The rate of discharge from Victorian hospitals was 104 in 1985-86 and 77 in 1986/87, or an average rate or 3.8 - 2.8 per 1000 Maltese-born.

This compares with a figure of 2.0 - 2.1 per 1000 for the Australian born population.

Source: Maurice N. Cauchi - Maltese Migrants in Australia, Malta 1990

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